I Know I Said I Won't Be Blogging...

But something BIG happened today:


It all starts my junior year of high school when I'm feeling overwhelmed
with school golf, AP classes, the decisions of college, friends not making
any sense etc. Most days I would come home, lay on my bed, and turn 
on the Mumford & Sons album and just zone out. Become one with the 
music, the beat, the banjo. 

I can honestly say Mumford & Sons helped me through so many rough patches
in high school from the death of a grandparent unexpectedly and 
crying my eyes out on the way home blasting "White Blank Page", 
feeling so stressed I feel I can't breathe, listening to "Sign No More,"
driving around knowing I needed to break up with a boyfriend and 
it all making sense once I listened to "Awake My Soul,"
, and then moments like blasting "Roll Away Your Stone" early in the morning 
with my sister just so we would wake up for those blasted zero periods.

Each song off their last album brings back such intense memories for me
and I can't wait to create new memories with Babel. 

So, yeah, I think you should go download this album.
I'll be listening to it non stop and possibly crying in the process
from the sheer beauty of it. 

A Little Update

photo from Tumblr

hi. hello. ciao. 
i really don't want this space to be one of negativity and would prefer it to 
be a space for rainbows, butterflies, and pictures of Joseph Gordon Levitt, but that's
just not always possible. 

i'm currently pretty torn. my academic life isn't going as well as i believe
it should, i'm stressed more than smiling, and i feel that something needs to change.
i don't know if taking a break from blogging will help that or not but
it's worth a try. i really just need to focus on schoolwork, friends, work, and
my relationship with God at the moment. 

i do hope you understand. and if you've experienced something similar,
how did you deal with it? 

and just think, in 4 months i will be in Italy with beautiful pictures
and stories to share for all!

I've got a crush...

I was reading my Glamour magazine yesterday and this was an
article in the back...
 It was too good to be true. I love me some JGL and his old school vibe
and adorable grin.

 Can we admire his face in the bottom left photo? 


He'll always be classy in my mind. 
I need me a man like JGL. 

It's Officially Fall

because i made homemade apple pie





it was delicious and super easy to make. it was also our first time baking
something besides cookies in the house. now that apple pie is crossed
off the fall list and the weather in Tucson is BEAUTIFUL, 
it is officially fall in my book. 

Dressing on a College Budget








shirt: Forever 21 skirt: Urban Outfitters belt: Target clutch: Vintage shoes: Target

Something you may not know about me, I am obsessed with clothes. But because I'm a student, I can't always afford the beautiful clothes that I dream about. So instead, I try and take trends I love and find them at thrift stores, forever 21 etc. And sometimes/ always I try to mix one of my nicer pieces with one of my cheaper pieces.

The maxi skirt is from Urban Outfitters but it was heavily on sale. I got it for $20!! I believe UO was having a 50% off sale items when I bought it. I was in heaven.

The shirt is new from Forever 21 and it's going to be my new fall staple. I love the floral collar the best.

The belt if from a dress I bought at Target years ago and the clutch is vintage from a Kentucky thrift store. It's such a classic clutch.

Also, my shoes are from Target. They are the wonderful loafers that come in leopard as well.  Oh, and the ring is from a little boutique in Portland, Oregon.

This is something I'm going to try to do from now on. Because a) I love clothes and blogging and b) I love saving money and bragging about it. haha

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday
I'm thankful for...

1. An amazing roommate who knows that magazines and
Hostess cupcakes are the perfect remedy to a bad day.
2. My job (as much as I complain about it somedays) because I credit
it for my new found appreciation of Tucson.
3. My ability to study abroad in Italia next semester. (It's actually happening!!!)
4. My family for being with me ever.single.step.of.the.way. Seriously, they 
keep me going. 
5. This beautiful weather in Tucson we've been having.
6. All the many opportunities and blessings I am given every day. 


My Life at Home










some snaps from the house. that purple couch?
 that my friends, is the world's comfiest reading couch.

Fall


"The leaves are falling
and they're falling like they're falling in love with the ground
and the trees are naked and lonely
i keep trying to tell them
new leaves will come around in the spring
but you can't tell trees those thing."
-Andrea Gibson

5 Things Friday



Got this fancy tag from Here

I'm going to start a new series where you can learn 5 new things
about me every week or so! :) 







1. Black Tea Lemonades with NO sweetener please. I also enjoy 
   having my name changed. Just call me Ellie. 
2. Books, books, and more books. Currently reading: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.
3. Mumford & Sons all day every day. September 25th can't come
   soon enough!
4. Braids of all kinds. (My roommate offered this thing about me
   and I'm starting to think she thinks I wear them too much...)
5. GUYS, THIS COMMERCIAL IS AMAZING! Every time it comes on I do
   one of those crazy laughs and can't stop laughing for a good 2
   minutes. It drives my roommate CRAZY! The cats faces 
    are just too much. 

Magic


Magic exists in the every day. Like lightning bugs, 
rain on a hot summer day, and love. 

I can't wait to experience that last bit of magic.

image via tumblr

Movie Recommendation





 "When it all goes quiet behind my eyes, I see everything that made me flying around in invisible pieces. The whole universe depends on everything fitting together just right.
 If one piece busts, even the smallest piece... the whole universe will get busted. 
 I see that I am a little piece of a big, big universe, and that makes it right."


This weekend I saw The Beasts of the Southern Wild and it was a very well
done movie. One of those that I loved seeing but don't know if I would
see it again though. It was pretty intense. The little girl 
was phenomenal and the imagery was incredible. I recommend it. 

The Look


I want a boy to look at me with that 'look' in his eyes(you
know, the one where he looks at you when you aren't paying
attention and doing something else but he's looking anyways)
and when he does, I'll know it's love

(image via tumblr)

Some of the Sweetest Things


1. Leaves falling from trees.
2. Three day weekends
3. Free scones from work and also delicious food that you get a discount on
4. My families unending support and love no matter the distance
5. Meeting an Australian exchange student and getting giddy about Italy
6. Meeting people from Northern California and reminiscing about familiar places
7. Mumford and Sons releasing a new album this month
8. The fact that it's September and everything begins anew 
9. Genuinely kind people
10. Coffee (always a constant mood lifter and comfort provider)